PFO Day 5 - Culture and Soccer

Whoa...it's June 30th, but it's 46 degrees!!! We awakened to a cold, crisp morning in NY, thankfully brightened with friends and food.  The classes were difficult to get through today.  Talking about the transition process is not very fun and entertaining.  We examined what every person goes through when they move.  It's hard to think about leaving, especially since I've never been too good at goodbyes and letting go.  I've tried not to dwell on it before, but today we had to journal about how we can "leave well" to minimize the hurt and pain of a move.  Prior to this, I've tried to reconcile relationships with family and friends, affirming my love for all of them.  The actual farewells are a time I'm not looking forward to.

The afternoon had more light hearted topics and a pick-up game of soccer  Took some pics of the kids and the game. 

Also had a group picture taken of our new Vienna Family.

Overby's, Katherine Stephen, Amanda Howard, and Johnstone's

Please pray for us.  We are 31 days away from our deadline and only at 31% funding.  If you are planning on supporting us financially, please send in the pledge card.  If you need answers to questions you might have, email, call, or send us a message.  All this valuable training and time will have been wasted if we don't get to go use it in the field at Vienna.

PFO Day 4 - Cool and Packed

Brisk and cool, God provided a beautiful day at Houghton College.  Loaded some pics of the beautiful campus.

Lots of information this day.  We sat through some awesome teaching regarding the students we will be teaching.  Very valuable in knowing how to teach students from another culture living in still another culture being educated in still another culture.  Another culture lecture specifically on American culture from an international perspective.  Paul's declaration of being all things to all people came to mind all day.  Had a get to know you time with our advisors, Dale and Edna Howard.  They served as C&MA missionaries to the Alliance School in Quito, Ecuador for many years.

Kids had a great time today learning about Moses and his excuses to God.  They swam and then played outside this afternoon during class making self portraits and playing soccer.

Bethany with her friend who will be going to Budapest, Hungary

Nate (in red w/ shorts) playing beach ball soccer with teachers and classmates.

Kids at dinner with our friends the Johnstones(Vienna) and Basnetts(Taiwan).

Meeting lots of awesome people headed out across the world to do kingdom work.  Please pray for us during this training as we make some great friends and learn how to better do the will of God in each of our lives.

PFO Day 3 - Rain, Rain

Lots of Rain today.  Enjoyed it when it was just drizzle.  It seems like all we do is eat.  Every break includes coffee, tea, and water.  Meals are huge.  Lots of choices, which is great for the kids.

Today, we had two interesting sessions.  An introductory session, a "simulation" on culture, and going through our personality inventories.  The kids had fun sessions learning about trusting God as they prepare to go overseas.  Channon and I had to "stretch" ourselves during our culture "simulation" as we acted out what it would be like to take our "culture" into another one. Personality Analysis, fun time seeing how each other is made.  I'm not fond of these things, but this was actually enjoyable and informative.

The one piece of info that keeps rattling around in my head is that most of this process is about attitude.  How you handle transition - attitude.  How you adapt - attitude.  How you "move through life" - attitude.

 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." - Phil. 2:5 (NIV)

Everything is about the proper attitude, a Christ-like attitude. Gotta keep working on that. 

PFO - Day 2

Day 2 - Highlights

• Really early alarm, sunrising at 5:30ish.
• Breakfast - 7:15 (needed salsa) w/ our new friends, The Johnstones.  They are also going to Vienna.  They have a son who is Nathan's age.
• Church service - Houghton Wesleyan Church - good service, hot with no AC and 300 people packed in like sardines on wooden pews without cushions. Not complaining except for being hot and sweaty.
• Lunch - oinked out on some pork/roast beef
• FREE/NAP TIME - LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!
• Orientation - small groups, luckily with the Michael & Rebecca Johnstone, 12 people not so small, small group.  Kids went to their classes, loved it.  Wanted to leave us and go play with friends.
• Dinner - Great time visiting w/ Michael & Rebecca, as well as The Basnetts from KC going to Taiwan.  Visited with two ladies going to Vienna also, Amanda and Katie.  Enjoying the bonding time.  We all share so many commonalities.

It's raining again.  Nice and peaceful.  Keeps it all green and lush.  Hope for more pics tomorrow.

Pre-Field Orientation - Day 1

Day One started at 3:00 am.  We, with less than 3 hours of sleep got up, ate, and got everyone to the airport by 4:30 to fly out to Houston, connect to Cleveland, Ohio, and then onto Buffalo, NY.

• Wow, for not ever having flown, the kids did awesome!!  Caylah was a riot! She cried out, "Wo-hoo!" when the plane sped up to take off, leaving the whole plane laughing.  Nathan and Bethany were a little nervous at first, but got over it quick by looking down at all of the lights, rivers and cities. 
• Praise God, we arrived in Buffalo, with no delays, at 1:45 pm and after riding in a charter bus for about 45 minutes, arrived in Houghton, NY and Houghton College.

 

Nate (in his favorite Captain America shirt) in Houghton, NY

These Houghton pics are of our assigned townhouse and the stream right outside our front door.

 

Meeting some of the new staff going to Vienna was great.  Ate some dinner and are now settling into our two-week abode.

Crazy Train...oh yeah!

What a week!!

• God has blessed us financially that we are now at 30% funding!! Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!! 
• Channon and I celebrated 15 years of marriage yesterday by eating some Italian food at Luigi's and then going by our home only to find that it had been broken in to.  The Thief stole, but didn't kill or destroy our hope and faith in Christ. 

This week has been a roller coaster ride getting ready to go to Pre-Field Orientation in Buffalo, NY.  The Pretender has tried to discourage, distract, and confuse, but God has been and is faithful, strong, and mighty!! 

Pray for us as we go and learn about our future students, ministry, and new friends who will be sharing in this endeavor.

All Boxed and Ready to Ship!!

It's hard to imagine...taking stock of your entire belongings...sorting them out in three rooms according to how precious they are to you and your family...selling off LOTS of them, storing a FEW at the In-Laws House, and placing the most precious in 40 bins/boxes.  WOW, our most precious belongings in 40 boxes/bins headed to Chicago and then Vienna on a ship for the next one and half months!!
Some sacrifices for the Lord are more difficult than others. 

"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:33

Lord, give us strength to give up all things for you and your call for us.  Whether stuff, people, comfort, or our very life, Lord it is yours!

Joe

Commence the Countdown!!

Finally, we are starting our blog.  Exciting isn't it?

We are so excited about God's call to Vienna and Vienna Christian School! The countdown has begun as we push forward towards July 31 and ministering in Vienna, Austria.  Only 52 days before takeoff to begin God's mission to the nations represented at Vienna Christian School. ARRGH!!...52 days??  We have so much left to do and so little time.  Fundraising is only at 15% and our stuff is only partially packed, but God is big enough to stop time and bring in the needed finances for this ministry.  Keep praying for us as time is growing shorter and shorter!!